New Year’s Resolution

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Mandy

As far as years go, 2011 was a busy one.

I didn’t write as much as I wanted to and the plan for 2012 is to change that. So, I’ve developed a list of things I’d like to attempt cooking in 2012. My thought is cooking new recipes will give me a lot to talk about and no excuse not to blog.

So, the list:

  • Home made pasta. Like, from scratch. For Christmas, Jeff’s family got us the pasta maker attachment for our Kitchen Aid mixer. We’re excited to try it out.
  • Beef wellington. This comes by recommendation from the chef at the restaurant where Jeff bartends.
  • A lamb dish. I’ve never tried to prepare lamb, so it’s time.
  • A veal dish. I don’t use veal nearly enough.
  • A Julia Child recipe. I put this on the list because I haven’t prepared anything from her giant cookbook since the challenge I participated in.
  • Tamales. We both love tamales so much. I hear they actually aren’t that hard to make. I’m up for the challenge.
  • Submit a 24X24 concept to Foodbuzz. Even if I’m not selected, make some variation of the meal.

Truth is, I’d like to add three more to this list. I’m looking for ideas of dishes that are classics that I probably haven’t tried to prepare or dishes that are a little bit of a challenge. However, I feel this list is a very good start.

Besides writing more, I’d also like to photograph more. When we got smartphones, I got in the horrible habit of leaving my real camera in its bag. I snap crappy photos with my phone of the yummy stuff we make instead of taking the two minutes to pull out my precious Nikon. This year, I’m reverting back to a camera that can do my food some justice. Resolution two is to photograph better and more.

With that, I wish you a happy, healthy and delicious 2012!

Categories: Holidays, Just talkin', Picture perfect | 1 Comment

Chicken (on the beach)

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mandy

As you know, I’m not much of a chicken fan.

Which isn’t really even true.

If I came to your house for dinner and you made chicken, I’d eat it. And, I’d probably really like it. I just don’t prepare chicken. In the six plus years Jeff and I have been together I’ve prepared and subsequently eaten chicken approximately three times.

Enter, our trip.

Each day on the beach,  around noon, it would start to smell good, like the sweet smell of grill. Made you miss Wisconsin a little, even. The smell was from the big grills they’d get going for a barbeque of sorts on the beach. And the chicken, along with everything else, was amazing. The chicken was usually served with seafood-loaded rice, which was also too good to pass up.

There were also woodfired pizzas, hot dogs, egg rolls, burgers and more. Even better, the service was over-the-top good. Everything always came with a smile and if you asked for something special, the cooks were always agreeable. I always asked for white meat and then they’d proceed to use a giant knife to just chop the whole chicken in half.

I honestly do not know what it was about the chicken. Usually, I don’t really like to look at chicken because it’s gross and slimy and reminds me it was once alive with cartilage and stuff. But this chicken was really juicy and really tender and didn’t remind me it used to be alive. Except for that part where there was an alive chicken who roamed by the bar about 20 yards away. The other interesting thing I noticed about their food in general, including the chicken, is they hardly use any seasoning. I noticed you could really taste the flavor of the meat, poultry and fish there because the seasoning was so minimal.

I’m not sure if I’ll become a chicken eater (or preparer) here at home. Again, there’s something about it’s raw form that I think is kind of gross. However, I don’t think I’ll be so hard on chicken, either. I don’t think I really can be after eating it and enjoying it so much on the trip.

I might even stop saying, “Uhhh, I hate chicken.”

Categories: Grilling, In love | Leave a comment

Resolution help needed

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Mandy

A few years back, I made a new year’s resolution to try one new recipe per month.

These days, I sometimes feel like I hardly cook once per month. Now, that’s kind of an exaggeration, but the fact is, I sucked at blogging in 2011. I want to change that for 2012.

So, I’m thinking something along the lines of try making these 10 things. However, I don’t have the list of “these” developed, yet. Which is why I need help. What 10 things should I attempt to make this year?

In turn, cooking 10 new things will force me to blog more, which is my real resolution. No excuses!

The only must-make item I have on the list so far is homemade pasta, which is inspired by the pasta maker Kitchen Aid attachment we received for Christmas.

Help! Thanks.

Categories: Holidays, Just talkin' | 2 Comments

Memories

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Mandy

Reminiscing about our trip is still a daily occurrence around here.

We dream of the sunshine and umbrella drinks, we think about poking around the buffets to check out all the cool options, the outdoor sports we did like dune buggies and ATVs and we think about the times we spent with great friends and family.

And in true things-that-matter-to-Jeff-and-Mandy form, one of our favorite memories happened with our friends around a dinner table. The night my best friend arrived – Wednesday, or day 3 for us – we all decided to try out the Italian restaurant. And there’s something about sitting around the table looking at two strong, married-before-us and still very happy couples. It’s inspiring to be around, really. Especially in the nights leading up to your very own wedding.

Prior to leaving our trip, Jeff and I had decided the Italian restaurant would be the “safe” restaurant. I think we also thought it wouldn’t be the greatest meal we’d eat. We were wrong! Plus, they kept the wine coming, something we really cannot complain about!

As a group, all three couples kind of decided that we’d do all the dishes we ordered family style so everyone would be able to try a lot of things. All of the food was amazing and the company was something we’ll never forget about when we think about our trip. We’ll talk about that meal for years and years to come.

As it turns out, we liked the Italian restaurant so much that during our four days alone on the island, we went back. And, I ordered a chicken dish. I cannot think of a time I’ve ever ordered a chicken dish at a restaurant in my adult life. The dish was amazing.

Fair to say the restaurant had a lasting impression on us.

I leave you with a few more photos from the evening.

 

Categories: BFFs, Friends, In love, Picture perfect, Restaurant review, Wine! | Leave a comment

Mr. and Mrs. Potts

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Mandy

We’re married. I’m a wife!

I have many things to write about the trip. The food. Ohhh, the French restaurant. And the wine, and sushi and chocolate sauce.

My new year’s resolution goes like this: Blog. Like you mean it. And so, in 2012, I promise, promise, promise to tell all the wedding trip foodie stories and more. Happy Holidays, friends!

Categories: Cha Ching, Family, Friends, Holidays, Out to eat, Picture perfect | Leave a comment

Excited

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Mandy

I’m excited.

For the seafood. Toes in the sand. A private wedding dinner on the beach. The helicopter ride. To see what our hotel room looks like. To swim in the ocean. And in the pool. To walk and walk and walk and talk on the beach. To try all – 10 of them – restaurants. To drink a lot of wine. And drinks with umbrellas. To become a wife. To have two weeks off of work. For the airplane ride. To wear my wedding dress. To eat all the fresh fruit. And native foods.

To marry the man of my dreams.

My married self will see you in a couple of weeks!

Categories: In love, Just talkin' | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving 2011

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Mandy

As usual, it was great to see and hang with the fam. The food was ahhhmazing.

However, I would rather be the one fussing in the kitchen, pulling together the meal. As we all know, I don’t sit still well, and being super busy helps with that. Next year.

I did try, and bring along, two new recipes to the feast. Both turned out well.

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs (stolen from Barefoot Contessa)
What you’ll need:
8 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives, plus extra for garnish
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces smoked salmon

Place eggs in a pot large enough to hold them in a single layer. Cover the eggs with cold water and bring to a full boil over high heat. As soon as the water boils, turn off the heat, cover, let eggs stand for 15 minutes. Drain the eggs and fill the pot with cold water. Set aside until cool. (This is my tried and true way to make hair boiled eggs. It works every single time.)

Peel the eggs (did the night before as a time-saver) and then slice then in half lengthwise (did the slicing the day of). Remove the yolks. To the yolks add: sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, salmon, salt and pepper. Beat on medium speed until fluffy. With a small spoon or a plastic bag made pastry bag, fill the egg whites with the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.

Garnish with salmon and chives.

Molasses, Pecan and Bourbon Glazed Sweet Potatoes (stolen from Bobby Flay)
What you’ll need:
1 stick unsalted butter, quartered
3/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup light brown sugar
pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
8 large sweet potatoes
3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Either parboil or roast you chopped sweet potatoes. I roasted them with a little salt and pepper and olive oil for about 30 minutes at 350.

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine the butter, molasses, brown sugar and cayenne in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until smooth, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to high, add the bourbon and cook for 2 minutes to allow alcohol to burn out. Season with salt and pepper.

Put the potatoes in a large baking dish and pour the molasses mixture over the top, toss to coat. Roast in the oven, stirring a few times, until the potatoe are cooked through and glazed, about 20 minutes. Top with toasted pecans.

Categories: Dang veggies, Family, Food Network, Holidays, Made it | Leave a comment